De Hems

De Hems is a cafe, pub, and oyster-house located off Shaftesbury Avenue in Chinatown, London, England. The "Horse & Dolphin" coaching inn opened at the site in 1685, and it was rebuilt in 1890 as "The Macclesfield", named for its location along Macclesfield Street. The pub was soon leased by the retired Dutch sea captain "Papa" De Hem, and it became a renowned oyster-house. The pub became a hangout for gangsters in the 1920s, and, during World War II, it became the unofficial headquarters of exiled Dutch Resistance members. In 1959, "The Macclesfield" was renamed to "De Hems" in honor of the captain, and it became popular with music industry people during the 1960s. During the 21st century, De Hems became a popular place to follow and celebrate the Dutch football team's successes, and it offered several Dutch dishes such as bitterballen meatballs and frikandel sausages.